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Category Archives: Tomatoes

To Chew or not to Chew? To Peel or not to Peel? Those are the questions.

30 Friday Dec 2022

Posted by Bob and Robin in Carrots, Cooking Styles, Food Prep, Food Trivia, Fruits, Healthy Eating, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Pickles, Plums, Potatoes, Sauces, Special Information, Squash, Tomatoes, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Carrots, chewing, garden tomatoes, green tomatoes, Healthy Eating, potatoes


So now I am confronted with a dilemma. First, how many times do I chew a bite before I swallow? 5 times? 10 times? 20 times? 30 times?

And the second part of the dilemma is do I peel potatoes, carrots and tomatoes before I use them in a recipe?

My sources for this article are varied and it has taken a while to research the questions. My sources include, but are limited to thekitchn, healthline, intestinal.com and others. Most of the many resources reiterate

the answers, so I have chosen and condensed the articles to create this post. I do hope you find the information helpful and healthy.

Let’s start with chewing.Chewing creates more digestive enzymes in the saliva and are helpful in breaking down food further and to aid in digestion. Chewing also triggers the stomach to produce more hydrochloric acid and regulating the pH to assist in food breakdown. When you chew your food properly, the food gets broken down into smaller pieces and mixes with saliva to extract the greatest amount of nutrients,

If you are not chewing your food thoroughly, you are likely eating to quickly which can lead to over eating. The metabolic syndrome is marked by obesity, high cholesterol levels, blood pressure problems and glucose levels to high. Metabolic Syndrome can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain cancers. (Dr. Supriya Rao, MD, Gastroenterology Consultants)

If you don’t chew your food enough, it could lead to bloating, diarrhea, heartburn, acid reflux, cramps, nausea, headaches, skin problems, irritability, malnutrition and a over production of gas. Eating more fermented foods, sauerkraut and pickles for instance, will produce more digestive enzymes and beneficial bacteria. They can reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance, allergies and asthma. 

It is strongly that you chew your foods a minimum of 32 times! When I site in restaurants and around our table at meal time, I count my chews and everyone else. Mine, and my wifes, are right around 30+ chews before we swallow. I can’t say that for the people I am watching. 5 times, 10 times and swallow. So my question is: How can they possibly say they enjoyed their meal? They can’t! It’s your choice. Choose wisely.

Tomatoes, Carrots and Potatoes. To peel or not to peel?

By leaving the peels on the listed vegetables, and there are others too, The peels contain soluble and insoluble fiber, and both are important components of a healthy diet and add to the flavor of most dishes. Those vegetables that should be peeled, the peels are tough and hard to eat, are kabocha ( a sweet squash variety in the Cucurbitaceae family, related to gourds and pumpkins). Professional and home chefs cherish Kabocha for its exceptionally sweet flavor. Kabocha is considered to be even sweeter than butternut squash), red kuri (Red kuri squash is a small or medium sized winter squash with a hard, orange skin that can be used in all kinds of sweet and savory recipes), celery root and kohlrabi. Generally, unpeeled produce contains higher amounts of vitamins, minerals and other useful compounds, whereas peeled vegetables have had these compounds removed. Interesting to know that potatoes that are boiled or cooked with the skin on contain 332% more vitamin K, 142% more potassium, 111% more folate and 110% more magnesium and phosphorus than peeled potatoes. And fruits can contain 328 times more antioxidants in the peels than in the pulp. The peels can increase your intake of these nutrients when eaten with the pulp.

Tomato peels contain flavanols, a plant-based antioxidant and are linked to age related complications, i.e., lower risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Lycopene, a major source of antioxidants, is found in the tomato skins. If the skins of tomatoes are offensive to you, that is bitter, use a submersible hand blender to completely grind the skins into fine “bits”. The liquid will then be like a passata. 

So there you have some information on fruits and vegetables. Use the information as you wish. If you question anything related to this article, please contact me and I will answer your questions. Thanks.

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What is “passata”?

26 Monday Oct 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Boise Food Adventures, Captain's Shack, Classic Cuisines, Classic Sauces, Comfort Food, Ethnic Foods, Heirloom Tomatoes, History of Food, Italian Food, Local Harvests, Passata, Recipes, Recipes - Sauces, Tomatoes, What's For Dinner?

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

passata, Pomi, tomato


Bob and Robin Halloween 1In the normal course of events of a daily schedule, we usually try to watch the Rachael Ray Show, just another in our long list of cooking shows we watch. Inquiring minds need to know. So today, she was making a tomato sauce and she used passata. We had no idea what this was, except it looked like tomato. It is. Uncooked, processed and strained to remove seeds and skins. Simply stated – passata is not cooked and it is made from fresh, de-stemmed and cored tomatoes. I did find this link on the web, What is Tomato Passata? on The Kitchn website.

It seems as if passata is an uncooked tomato puree that has been strained of seeds and skins. It originated in Italy but is used throughout Europe. Some passatas are chunkier and some are smoother, depending on the brand. Some people claim that passata can also be cooked, but most agree that it is uncooked. You will also see it spelled passato and passata di pomodoro … How is passata different from tomato sauce or tomato paste? Well, both the sauce and paste are cooked tomato products to begin with. Tomato sauce often has other ingredients such as carrots, onions, garlic, etc. And tomato paste is cooked down and much thicker. You would not want to substitute either product if passata is called for in your recipe. If you cannot find it in your store, take plain canned tomatoes and run them through a sieve or a food mill. While most passatas are just plain tomatoes, some are sold with additions, such as basil, so read your label carefully if this is an issue … In general, passata is considered to be a superior product to canned tomatoes, using higher quality tomatoes and processing methods. I’m really looking forward to giving it a try!

Pomi Strained TomatoesAccording to some sources, passata is rarely used in the USA and can be hard to find. However, Robin and I have found it – sold as Pomi – at Albertsons Grocery Stores and at Whole Foods. You can also try World Market Cost Plus. Whenever we come across a tomato recipe that calls for tomato sauce, a passata is what we use. And we use the brand Pomi. We like the richness and thickness of this product. Plus, it tends to be low in the sodium content. But then too, you can make your own if you so desire. Cheers and enjoy!

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Good Eats!

18 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Baguette, Basil, Beef, Boise Farmers Market, Breakfast, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Classic Sauces, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Robin, Eggplant, Eggs, Food Photos, French Foods, Garlic, Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Beef, Idaho's Bounty, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Meadowlark Farms, Paella, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Purple Sage Farms, Recipes, Recipes - Dinner, Salads, Sea Scallops, Seafood, Shrimp, Tomatoes, Vegetables, Vegetarian Foods, What's For Dinner?

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Basil Treads


16July2015_1_State-And-Lemp_Robin A couple days of some really good eats – good food! The weather is not 100+, it is 58 degrees at night and in the mid 80’s during the day. I’ll take that. The Soda Fire is 90% contained and rehab has started for the grasslands – it’ll take two to three years for it to totally come back. Grazing will be at a premium. Wild horses are being cared for and watched for injuries. All seems as well as it can be under the circumstances. Back to the kitchen!

Meadowlark Farms Eggs Benedict Fresh Williamson Orchards Fruit

Meadowlark Farms Eggs Benedict
Fresh Williamson Orchards Fruit

Home Stead Foods Rib Steak Asparagus with Bearnaise Sauce True Roots Heirloom Tomatoes with Purple Sage Basil Threads

Homestead Foods Rib Steak
True Roots Asparagus with Meadowlark Farms Eggs for Bearnaise Sauce
True Roots Heirloom Tomatoes with Purple Sage Basil Threads

Braised Scallops Shaved Zucchini Salad with Tomatoes Basil and Cheese

Braised Scallops
Shaved Zucchini Salad with Tomatoes, Basil Treads and Cheese

Ratatouille Toasted Baguette with Garlic

Ratatouille
Toasted Baguette with Garlic

Here is the Ratatouille recipe.

Scrambled Eggs Grits and Shrimp

Meadowlark Farms Scrambled Eggs
Grits and Shrimp

I asked Robin what she wanted for breakfast. Without even blinking an eye, she said, “Shrimp and Grits.” I asked her if she wanted some scrambled eggs with that. She said, “Just one egg.” I had some, too!

Such a yum couple of merals. Such a great time in the kitchen!

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“Eggs Baked in Tomatoes” For Breakfast

31 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Basil, Boise Farmers Market, Breakfast, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Cheese, Classic Herb Blends, Eggs, Eggs Baked, Food Photos, Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs and Spices, Idaho's Bounty, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Meadowlark Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipes, Recipes - Breakfast, Rice Family Farms, Tomatoes, What's For Dinner?

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

baked eggs


04Mar2015_1_Ciottonwood-Grille_Robin-at-Arid-Club_GoodReally a super flavor. A great idea that Robin found. But, we find that certain changes should be made – use cupcake tins (pans) for one thing. Basically, the recipe comes from PowWow recipes, Eggs Baked in Tomatoes. We found that the tomatoes have a lot of liquid in them for this recipe. We used Beefsteak, which are super tomatoes. We need a more pulpy tomato, but not a San Marzano or Roma. Wrong shape. I will check at the Boise Farmers Market tomorrow to see what I can find. Here are some photos that I took of our breakfast. Enjoy. I will post the recipe as we used it at the end of this post. Cheers! The tomatoes and the eggs are from the Boise Farmers Market. The herbs are from our garden.

The tomatoes are scooped out and have a large pinch of herbs and salt and pepper in them. We used a cupcake pan so the tomatoes would keep their shape. Take care when you remove them from the pan. Let them cool first.

The tomatoes are scooped out and have a large pinch of herbs and salt and pepper in them. We used a cupcake pan so the tomatoes would keep their shape. Take care when you remove them from the pan. They have a tendency to want to collapse and fall apart. Let them cool first.

Even being careful while removing them from the pan, they tended to "fall apart". But still deliciously different for breakfast.

Even being careful while removing them from the pan, they tended to “fall apart”. But still deliciously different for breakfast.

Here is the recipe –

Eggs Baked in Tomatoes

Adapted From: Eggs Baked in Tomatoes | Recipes – PureWow
Robin Young, Boise, ID Servings: 3 Start to Finish: 45 minutes Prep: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
2 T Olive Oil
6 med Tomatoes
6 lg Eggs
¼ c Whole Milk
¼ c grated Parmesan Cheese
Sea Salt and freshly ground Tellicherry Black Pepper
2 T chopped fresh Chives
1 T fresh Thyme leaves
2 t chiffonade fresh Basil
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a large, oven-safe skillet with the olive oil, or a muffin tin.
2. Using a small paring knife, cut around the stems of the tomatoes and remove them. Use a spoon to scoop out all the insides of the tomatoes, including the liquid. (Reserve the insides and liquid and use them to make tomato sauce or salsa.) Be careful not to split the sides of the tomatoes.
3. Blend together the chopped chives, fresh thyme leaves and basil. Sprinkle the inside of the tomatoes with a large pinch of the herb blend and salt and pepper.
4. Arrange the tomato shells snugly in the prepared skillet or in a muffin tin. Again, be careful not to split the sides of the tomatoes. Crack an egg into each tomato. Top each egg with 1 tablespoon milk and 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Season each egg with salt and pepper.
5. Bake until the tomatoes are tender, the egg whites are set and the yolks are still a little jiggly, 18 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes and then garnish with a little more of the fresh herbs. Serve immediately.

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Corn Pie and Sliced Tomatoes. Corn What?

19 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Corn, Corn Pie, Ethnic Foods, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Locavore, Lunch With Robin, Main Dish, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipe Writing, Recipes, Things To Do, Tomatoes, Vegetables, Vegetarian Foods, What's For Dinner?, Whats For Lunch?

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Boise Foodie Blog Recipes, corn, corn pie


Robin-Bob-In-Kitchen_Looking-RightI went to the Boise Farmers Market on Saturday to get my weekly supply of farm fresh products: eggs, carrots, squash, eggplant, tomatoes, string beans and almond croissants. When I bought my tomatoes, big, wonderful beefsteak ones that actually smelled like a tomato, the lady said, “These will be great in a salad.” I said, “Yes, but they will be much better with a Corn Pie. Sliced tomatoes and corn pie for dinner! Yum.” To which she aked, “Corn what? How do you make corn pie?” So I told her and she seemed amazed. I bought the tomatoes and walked by some other booths, when a lady came up to me and asked, “Are you the one who makes corn pie? How do you make it?” So I told her. Now I will let you know how to make a Corn Pie. It’s not hard. Why all you need is some fresh corn, pie crusts, milk – or half and half or cream – flour, butter, salt and pepper and a little (just a touch) nutmeg or cinnamon. A 9″ pie pan. An oven at 350 degrees F. And about a total of an hour and a half. Here is the recipe. Enjoy! And as a note: This is probably better at the end of the season with older corn.

12 ears of corn off the cob. Salt and pepper to taste. About 1 cup of whole milk and about 2 Tablespoons of butter broken up. About 2 Tablespoons of flour. All mixed together in a large bowl then poured into a partial baked pie crust.

12 ears of corn off the cob. Salt and pepper to taste. 1 cup of whole milk and about 2 Tablespoons of butter broken up and 2 Tablespoons of flour. All mixed together in a large bowl then poured into a partial baked pie crust.

A second pie crust is put on top. Pierce it with a fork and butter the top liberally.

A second pie crust is put on top. Pierce it with a fork and butter the top liberally.

After 30 minutes at 350 degrees F, check the pie. Smell it. Drool a little. Dinner is in about another 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes at 350 degrees F, check the pie. Smell it. Drool a little. Put it back into the oven and wait. Dinner is in about another 30 minutes.

After 1 hour at 350 degrees F, this is what you end up with. A luscious, splendid, delicious Corn Pie. Bubbling with a creamy mixture of whole milk (or cream) and butter and wonderful fresh corn.

After 1 hour at 350 degrees F, this is what you end up with. A luscious, splendid, delicious Corn Pie. Bubbling with a creamy mixture of whole milk (or cream) and butter and wonderful fresh corn.

One piece has been devoured!

One piece has been devoured!

Corn Pie Farm Fresh Sliced Yellow and Red Tomatoes with Basil Threads and Hawaiian Sea Salt.

Corn Pie

Farm Fresh Sliced Yellow and Red Tomatoes
with
basil threads and Hawaiian sea salt

This is a family traditional summer or late summer meal. Simple. Corn Pie and Sliced Tomatoes. I like this recipe, but here is one recipe that we have used. It calls for you to also make your own pie crust. Corn Pie Recipe. The recipe also calls for a 400 degree F oven, but that always seemed a little high to me. I like the lower temperature better. I may have to re-write the recipe. Pre-bake the bottom pie crust – it will not be soggy.

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32nd Anniversary Dinner

15 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Anniversary, Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Carrots, Classic Cuisines, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Robin, Ethnic Foods, Fennel, Food Prep, Fruits, Ginger, Green Peas, Green Salad, Harissa, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Lamb, Lamb, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Main Dish, Olive Oil, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Raisins, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes -Tagine, Salads, Special Dinners, Special Events, Spices of Morocco, Tagine, Tagine Cooking, Tagine of Lamb, Tomatoes, Traditional Food, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

fennel, lamb tagine, tagine, tajine


14July2015_2_Captains-Shack_Gardinea_01 -1A happy 32nd anniversary dinner tonight! Thank-You Robin for all that love and those many years! The gardenia pictured here is on our front porch. Last century, when Robin and I would go to a formal dance, I would get her a corsage of gardenia. This plant is fitting and brings back many fond memories.
The dinner tonight, Tagine of Lamb with Peas and Fennel, is a very traditional Moroccan dish and tonight we prepared it in a traditional way – in a tagine.

A tajine or tagine (Arabic: طاجين‎ tajin from the Arabic: طاج‎) is a historically North African Berber dish that is named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. A similar dish known as tavvas is found in Cypriot cuisine. The traditional method of cooking with a tajine is to place it over coals. Use of the tajine can be compared to stewing.

Ceramic tajines.
The traditional tajine pot is made of pottery, which is sometimes painted or glazed. It consists of two parts: a base unit that is flat and circular with low sides and a large cone- or dome-shaped cover that sits on the base during cooking. The cover is designed to promote the return of all condensation to the bottom. Tajines can also be cooked in a conventional oven or on a stove top.
Tajine is traditionally cooked over hot charcoal leaving an adequate space between the coals and the tajine pot to avoid having the temperature rise too fast. Large bricks of charcoal are purchased specifically for their ability to stay hot for hours. Smaller pieces of charcoal are reserved for cooking brochettes (barbecue) and other grilled meats.
Other methods are to use a tajine in a slow oven or on a gas or electric stove top, on lowest heat necessary to keep the stew simmering gently. A diffuser – a circular piece of aluminium placed between the tajine and burner – is used to evenly distribute the stove’s heat. European manufacturers have created tajines with heavy cast-iron bottoms that can be heated on a cooking stove to a high temperature. This permits the browning of meat and vegetables before cooking.
Tajine cooking may be replicated by using a slow cooker or similar item; but the result will be slightly different. Many ceramic tajines are decorative items as well as functional cooking vessels. Some tajines, however, are intended only to be used as decorative serving dishes. [Wikipedia]

Using the recipe link above, the vegetables are cut and placed in the tagine along with all spices.

Using the recipe link above, the vegetables are cut and placed in the tagine along with all spices.

At about 2 hours, or halfway through the cooking process, check to see if more liquid is needed.

At about 2 hours, or halfway through the cooking process, check to see if more liquid is needed.

The finished product still in the tagine. It could be served from this pot.

The finished product still in the tagine. It could be served from this pot.

Tagine of Lamb with Peas and Fennel Fresh Spinach and Tomato Salad with Meyer Lemon Olive Oil and Tarragon Vinegar

Tagine of Lamb with Peas and Fennel

Fresh Spinach and Tomato Salad
with
Meyer Lemon Olive Oil and Tarragon Vinegar Vinaigrette

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Lamb Shank Tagine

15 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Apricots, Captain's Shack, Cast Iron, Classic Cuisines, Classic Herb Blends, Couscous, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Robin, Ethnic Foods, Food Photos, Food Prep, Food Trivia, Fruit, Garlic, Garlic Scapes, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Greens, Idaho Lamb, Idaho Wine, Interesting Information, Koenig Vineyards, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Mediterrean Foods, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes, Recipes -Tagine, Slow Cooking, Special Information, Spices of Morocco, Tagine Cooking, Tagine of Lamb, Tajine, Tomatoes, Traditional Food, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Wines - Idaho

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Tags

apricots, garlic scapes, lamb tagine, Mediterrean food, North African food, tagine


Tagine cooking using a cooking utensil like pictured here, is a very Mediterrean or a North African style of cooking. Low heat and long time. More information on tagines and tagine can be found on this blog by Clicking Here. According to Wikipedia,

A tajine or tagine (Arabic: طاجين‎ tajin from the Arabic: طاج‎) is a historically North African dish that is named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. A similar dish known as tavvas is found in Cypriot cuisine. The traditional method of cooking with a tajine is to place it over coals. Use of the tajine can be compared to stewing … The traditional tajine pot is made of pottery, which is sometimes painted or glazed. It consists of two parts: a base unit that is flat and circular with low sides and a large cone- or dome-shaped cover that sits on the base during cooking. The cover is designed to promote the return of all condensation to the bottom. Tajines can also be cooked in a conventional oven or on a stove top.
Tajine is traditionally cooked over hot charcoal leaving an adequate space between the coals and the tajine pot to avoid having the temperature rise too fast. Large bricks of charcoal are purchased specifically for their ability to stay hot for hours. Smaller pieces of charcoal are reserved for cooking brochettes (barbecue) and other grilled meats.
Other methods are to use a tajine in a slow oven or on a gas or electric stove top, on lowest heat necessary to keep the stew simmering gently. A diffuser – a circular piece of aluminium placed between the tajine and burner – is used to evenly distribute the stove’s heat. European manufacturers have created tajines with heavy cast-iron bottoms that can be heated on a cooking stove to a high temperature. This permits the browning of meat and vegetables before cooking. Tajine cooking may be replicated by using a slow cooker or similar item; but the result will be slightly different. Many ceramic tajines are decorative items as well as functional cooking vessels. Some tajines, however, are intended only to be used as decorative serving dishes … Moroccan tajine dishes are slow-cooked savory stews, typically made with sliced meat, poultry or fish together with vegetables or fruit. Spices, nuts, and dried fruits are also used. Common spices include ginger, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and saffron. Paprika and chili are used in vegetable tajine. The sweet and sour combination is common in tajine dishes like lamb with dates and spices. Tajines are generally served with bread. Because the domed or cone-shaped lid of the tajine pot traps steam and returns the condensed liquid to the pot, a minimal amount of water is needed to cook meats and vegetables. This method of cooking is practical in areas where water supplies are limited or where public water is not yet available.

Here is the process of making our Lamb Shank Tagine. Enjoy!

The lamb shanks are seared in olive oil and Mediterranean spices, which can be found in most grocery stores or in speciality stores.

The lamb shanks are seared in olive oil and Mediterranean spices in a large cast iron pot over medium heat. The Mediterrean spices can be found in most grocery stores or in speciality stores. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.

One thinly sliced onion, diced garlic and chopped garlic scapes are cooked until tender. More Mediterrean spice and sea salt and fresh pepper can be added.

Remove the shanks from the cast iron pot and put aside. Do not remove the lamb liquid. Lower the heat so vegetables do not burn or scorch. Add one thinly sliced onion, diced garlic and chopped garlic scapes and cook in the olive oil in the cast iron pot until tender. More Mediterrean spice and sea salt and fresh pepper can be added.

Chickpeas, drained, and chopped dried apricots are added and mixed.

Chickpeas, drained, and chopped dried apricots are added and mixed. Add about 4 Bay Leaves.

Chopped tomato is added to the pot. Let cook until warmed through.

Chopped tomato is added to the pot. Let cook until warmed through. Taste and adjust spices and seasonings as necessary.

Add the vegetable mixture to the tagine. Taste and adjust as necessary. Place the lamb shanks into the vegetables. After 1 hour, it should look like this.

Add the vegetable mixture to the tagine. Place the lamb shanks into the vegetables. After 1 hour, it should look like this.

After 2 hours, the shanks should look like this.

After 2 hours, the shanks should look like this.

3 hours and the shanks are looking good.  The lamb should be tender and tend to pull easily from the bone..

3 hours and the shanks are looking good. The lamb should be tender and tend to pull easily from the bone..

Tagine Lamb Shank Couscous with Tagine Vegetables 2012 Koenig Vineyards Devil's Bedstead Zinfandel

Tagine Lamb Shank
Couscous

with
Tagine Vegetables
2012 Koenig Vineyards Devil’s Bedstead Zinfandel
(an Idaho wine!!!)

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Fire Pie Pizza at Houston Winery

07 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Baking, Basil, Boise Adventures, Buy Idaho, Chardonnay, Cheese, Classic Cuisines, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Dinner With Robin, Dinner With The Winemaker, Healthy Eating, Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Housemade Pie Crust, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Wine, Idaho's Bounty, Italian Food, Local Harvests, Locavore, Main Dish, Merlot, Organic Foods, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Release Parties, Smoking and Grilling, Special Events, Special Information, Spice Blends, Tomatoes, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Tasting, Wines - Idaho

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Basil Pizza, fire pie pizza, Fresh Margarita Pizza, Houston Wine, Houston Winery, release party


FirePiePizza_logoSuch a great Idaho afternoon with great Idaho pizza and some great Idaho wines from Houston Winery in Caldwell, Idaho – it was their Merlot release party. Superb Merlot was released today and it is well worth buying some. It went very well with the Fire Pie Pizza made by Jamie and Kitty Martin of Hagerman, ID. (See their link in the sidebar.) If you are looking for a treat at your next party, be it family or work, try Firepiepizza! Fresh made. Local products – and you know how I am with Buying Local – cooked in a fire oven. They will make any kind of pizza that you want, providing they have the supplies on hand. Enjoy these photos of the afternoon. Cheers!

06June2015_3_Fire-Pie-Pizza_Flyer-106June2015_3_Fire-Pie-Pizza_Flyer-2

Firepiepizza Banner

Firepiepizza Banner

Kitty Martin creates a masterful pizza. And all from scratch and using local products, especially the vegetables.

Kitty Martin creates a masterful pizza. And all from scratch and using local products, especially the vegetables. Jamie Martin tends the oven.

Pizza making

Pizza making

An extremely hot oven completely designed and built by Jamie Martin.

An extremely hot oven completely designed and built by Jamie Martin.

Pizza is ready!

Pizza is ready!

More orders are coming in!

More orders are coming in!

Fresh Tomato and Basil Pizza!

Margherita Pizza ! Add a glass of Houston Wine and Yummers!

Fresh Margarita Pizza

Fresh Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza. I need more wine!

Robin discusses wine.

Robin discusses wine.

Gregg Algers, Winemaker at Houston Winery,  Larry and Elaine Gibson, TVWS members all enjoy the pizza and the wine.

Gregg Algers, Winemaker at Houston Winery, Larry and Elaine Gibson, TVWS members, all enjoy the pizza and the wine.

There was a great crowd at this release party.

There was a great crowd at this release party.

More fire baked pizza, please!

More fire baked pizza, please!

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Let’s Make Some Pasta!

17 Sunday May 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Arugula, Bacon, Basil, Boise Farmers Market, Captain's Shack, Cheese, Classic Cuisines, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Robin, Eggs, Ethnic Foods, Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs and Spices, Housemade Pasta, Idaho Greens, Italian Food, Kitchen Adventures, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Meadowlark Farms, Olive Oil, Pasta, Peaceful Belly Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipe Writing, Recipes, Recipes - Pasta, Tomatoes, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wines - Idaho

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Kitchen Adventures, pasta, pasta machine, spaghetti


21sept2013_2_robins-bday-captains-shack_gumbo_getting-happyFresh pasta! So very good and cooks so fast. If you make your own pasta – and we’ll show you how in this article – just think of the variations you can make and the ingredient control you have. For instance, we use only local, farm raised and free range eggs from Meadowlark Farms (they are at the Saturday Boise Farmers Market at 10th and Grove.) Even your flour source can be local.
The recipe we use is an adaptation of Chef Anne Burrell’s. We use garlic infused olive oil and semolina. Both of which are not in her recipe. Here is the recipe for Pasta that we have adapted. There are several pasta makers on the market. Manual Pasta MakerSome relatively inexpensive and others somewhat more expensive. We have and have used a manual one like at this link – and pictured here – from Walmart, which we still have. About $30.00. Some people have this “thing” about Walmart. No problem. Pasta Maker Bed Bath and BeyondYou can get a good one from Bed, Bath and Beyond that is still a manual one and works very well. These sell for about $35. This one is a slightly different construction and design, but you will end up with the same product when you are finished. You can also get one direct from Italy for around $500.00 and others that are commercial grade for around $1900.00. But why when the home Chef can get a good quality product for much less, unless you are into brand recognition.Pasta Maker KitchenAid Bed Bath and Beyond 149The one we use nowadays is an attachment to our KitchenAid, as pictured here and I love working with it. With this package you get a set of three presses: a flat one for lasagna or the beginning press for spaghetti or fettuccini; a spaghetti die and a fettuccini die. About $150.00. So your choices are wide and varied. Get the one that suits your needs. Now on to making the pasta. Enjoy! I have placed a link to the Pasta Recipe above. Print out a copy and follow along.

Basically four ingredients: Flour or semolina as pictured here and eggs with oil and water. You will need a clean and fairly large working area.

Basically four ingredients: Flour or semolina as pictured here and eggs with oil, salt and water. You will need a clean and fairly large working area. I like to pre-mix the eggs, water, oil and salt in a bowl. Then I don’t “splash” the eggs mixing them in the “well”.

The semolina "well" The process is the same if you use flour.

The semolina “well” The process is the same if you use flour.

Pulling the semolina into the egg mixture using a fork. Work carefully.

Pulling the semolina into the egg mixture using a fork. Work carefully.

The dough is starting to form.

The dough is starting to form.

The pasta dough is ready to knead. Notice the pastry knife used to help in the kneading process.

The pasta dough is ready to knead. Notice the pastry knife used to help in the kneading process.

The pastry dough is kneaded and ready to rest for at least 1 hour.

The pastry dough is kneaded and ready to rest for at least 1 hour.

Spaghetti noodles from the dough. Dust with flour to keep them from sticking.

Spaghetti noodles from the dough. Dust with flour to keep them from sticking.

Spaghetti Carbonara made from the pasta dough we made. Except for the pancetta, most of the other ingredients are all from the Boise Farmers Market./

Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe and pictured here, made from the pasta dough we made. Except for the pancetta, most of the other ingredients are all from the Boise Farmers Market. Serve this with a 2012 Sawtooth Winery Trout Trilogy Petite Sirah. Awesome!

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Diet and “The Heartbreak of Psoriasis”

10 Friday Apr 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Beef, Captain's Shack, Chicken, Cooking Programs, Cooking Styles, Dinner For Robin, Eggplant, Eggs, Grilled Vegetables, Healthy Eating, Idaho Beef, Idaho Dairy, Idaho Lamb, Idaho Pork, Idaho Potatoes, Idaho Trout, Idaho Wine, Idaho's Bounty, Lamb, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Pork, Potatoes, Special Events, Tilapia, Tomatoes, Trout, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Whats For Breakfast?, Whats For Lunch?, Wine and Food

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diet, Plaque Psoriasis, psoriasis


21sept2013_2_robins-bday-captains-shack_gumbo_getting-happyAnd Robin has it and the infection drives her “nuts” sometimes! But she located this interesting article from Embrel, Psoriasis – Your Condition. “Plaque Psoriasis Is an Immune Disease; Treat It From Within.” In other words, modify your diet. Key word: Modify, Not eliminate. And do it slowly; One food group at a time or item within the food group; Not all at once. Looks like we will return to our high seafood diet and chicken diet, at least for a while. The last paragraph in this article is important and something to remember. And to let you know, we do not eat a lot of “Junk Food”. Maybe a burger once a month – Maybe! Here is part of an article from Embrel Do enjoy the information. If you have psoriasis, it might be worth a try. Good luck and Stop Scratching! (My Dad always said, “Home is where you can scratch where it itches!”)

Your Personal Elimination Psoriasis Diet
Here are eight foods and beverages that get mentioned often by people as possibly causing their psoriasis flare-ups. You might consider cutting them out of your diet one at a time to see if any have an effect on your symptoms:
Alcohol. “First and foremost, stop drinking,” Bagel says. Here’s why: Alcohol opens the blood vessels in the skin. When your blood vessels are dilated, white blood cells, including the T cells that are believed to be responsible for psoriasis, can sneak into the outer layers of your skin more easily — and you don’t need to be inviting more T cells. “Your psoriasis symptoms may worsen even if you’re a light-to-moderate alcohol user,” warns Chelsea Marie Warren, RD, a dietitian and certified wellness coach in Portland, Ore.
Junk foods. Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition. Junk foods tend to be high in saturated and trans fats and refined starches and sugars, all of which can promote inflammation. Another reason to avoid junk foods is that that they are high in calories with little nutritional value, and people with psoriasis often have weight problems. “If you have psoriasis, you have an increased risk of heart and vascular diseases,” Bagel says. “Being overweight adds to that risk.”
Red meat. Red meats contain a polyunsaturated fat called arachidonic acid. “This type of fat can worsen psoriasis symptoms because it can easily be converted into inflammatory compounds,” Warren says. Also include on your foods-to-avoid list: processed meats such as sausage and bacon.
Dairy products. Like red meat, dairy products contain the natural inflammatory arachidonic acid. “Cow’s milk is one of the biggest culprits,” Bagel says, because it also contains the protein casein, which has been linked to inflammation. Egg yolks, too, are high in arachidonic acid, so consider nixing them from your diet.
Nightshade plants. Some people report that consuming plants from the “nightshade family” — which includes peppers, white potatoes, eggplant, and tomatoes — exacerbates their psoriasis. These vegetables contain solanine, a chemical compound that has been shown to trigger pain in some people. “Certain patients believe that if you avoid these vegetables, you decrease your symptoms,” Bagel says. “I’m not so sure about that, but I’m not opposed to people trying it.”
Citrus fruits. Sometimes, an allergic reaction can cause psoriasis to flare. Citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes, are a common allergen. See if eliminating them from your diet improves your skin. This prohibition includes their derivatives as well, such as lemonade or grapefruit juice.
Gluten. Gluten is a protein found in some grass-related grains, including rye, wheat, and barley. Researchers in Portugal found that psoriasis symptoms in some people with a gluten sensitivity improved after they avoided gluten in their diets. Studies are ongoing, but the idea of psoriasis patients benefitting from a gluten-free diet is still controversial, Bagel says. Even if it works, he adds, it’s not an easy diet to follow.
Condiments. Some people with psoriasis find condiments and spices to be their enemy. The ones that seem to cause the most trouble for people with psoriasis are pimento, cinnamon, curry, vinegar, mayo, paprika, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup. They’re on the no-no list because substances in these condiments can increase inflammation.
Although research has yet to confirm a direct link between what you eat and psoriasis flare-ups, you might find that your condition improves when you avoid one or more of these foods. Be sure to share what you discover with your doctor so you don’t miss out on any important nutrients

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